Police arrest six pastors in Karnataka

Police on Tuesday arrested six pastors and two believers who were dedicating a prayer hall in Kolar district of Karnataka.

The Global Council of Indian Christians reported that the pastors and believers were arrested on a "false complaint" lodged by radical groups in Nangli village, Mulibagalu taluk.

"The pastors were dedicating the new prayer hall this morning [Nov. 24], when radical groups barged in at 11:30 a.m., disrupted and stopped the service and accused the pastors and believers of indulging in forceful conversion," reported the Bangalore-based advocacy group.

At about 12:15 police arrived on the scene and took the pastors and believers to the Nangli Police Station for further questioning, it said.

However, later in the evening, after the intervention of GCIC, the police held a conciliatory meeting and released the detained Christians.

The pastors and believers belong to the Friends Missionary Prayer Band (FMPB) that has been ministering in Nangli for the last 19 years.

The prayer hall was being dedicated for the worship of dozens of families and individuals of the fellowship. It was the kind gesture of Kondaram, a believer since the past 80 years, the worship place was being constructed.

GCIC said it has appealed to the Chief Minister to uphold the Constitution of India and halt such unjustified attacks against the Christian community in Karnataka.